Joliet College Meetings Get Scrutiny After Tax Slip-up

The question of open meetings became the latest point of contention this week between the Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees and the JJC Foundation.

The foundation, a fundraising arm of the college, has come under increased scrutiny by the board after an investigation last month determined the college owed more than $3,000 in back taxes for items purchased for a banquet facility run by a subsidiary of the foundation.

Board members Monday directed College President J.D. Ross to send notices to board members and the media for any meetings of the JJC Foundation, its committees and the corporation that owns the Renaissance Center at the City Center campus.

But, Donna Stankiewicz, the new director of the foundation, quickly defused any controversy by stating that foundation meetings are open.

Stankiewicz said the board would place a welcoming sign outside its next meeting, scheduled for July 21. She said she was not aware of anyone being turned away from a foundation meeting.

The motion to send out notices for the meetings was introduced by Trustee David Cryer, who said he was not sure whether meetings are open.

College attorney David Ruttle said he believed that the foundation was not subject to open meeting laws, but Cryer disagreed.

"I think the meetings should be open to the public," Cryer said. "An employee of the college runs the foundation."

Outgoing board chairman John Hertko said he was kept waiting outside a meeting of the foundation for 45 minutes last year and was never let inside.

"It's about time the sun shone on the JJC Foundation," Hertko said. "I didn't see them voluntarily doing this until David Cryer made the motion."